Test cassette for fluid analyses

Abstract

A test cassette for the detection of analytes from fluid samples is provided which has a housing (1, 2) with an inlet opening and with a reservoir for receiving a fluid sample containing the analyte. A separate carrier platform (3) can be horizontally displaced in the housing (1, 2), for fixing one or more flexible, strip-like, capillary-active detection elements. The carrier platform (3) in the housing (1, 2) is designed such that the capillary-active detection elements are deflected from the longitudinal direction of the strips and dip into the fluid sample in the reservoir during a lateral motion of the carrier platform (3).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2006 000 677.1 filed Jan. 3, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to a test cassette for use for sample preparation, conditioning and the subsequent automatic biochemical analysis of a fluid matrix for a plurality of analytes in one operation. The test cassette contains special interfaces for connecting such a device for obtaining a sample for an automatic device-based evaluation of the analysis.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A plurality of test procedures, which require rapid analysis at the site of occurrence, at the individual or at the object to be measured in order to shorten reaction times or to facilitate decision-making that justify further, at times expensive special analyses, are known in both environmental analytical chemistry, for...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]It is desirable in the sense of a maximum level of integration of sampling, sample preparation and analytical functions for fluid samples to make available a test cassette that makes possible, on the one hand, necessary processes of sample preparation, conditioning and signal evaluation via suitable interfaces and, on the other hand, the transfer of the sample to parallelized one-step analysis pathways.

[0013]The upper part of the test cassette additionally contains rigid guide elements, which are preferably arc-shaped, for deflecting the capillary-active detection elements into the sample tray for fluid samples. As an alternative, there are openings or opening flaps in the upper part of the test cassette, which makes possible the engagement of guide elements for lowering the capillary-active detection elements.

Problems solved by technology

This procedure is difficult in the case of more complex biochemical analytical procedures when multi-step sample preparations precede an analysis and the sample thus processed must subsequently be fed to the analytical unit.

Analytical processes thus become either too cumbersome and too error-prone or too expensive to continue to be still able to claim being a rapid on-site test.

However, it is a one-analyte system, which does not take into account the different ways of processing of different analytes contained in a sample in one process.

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